Buhari Has Failed Nigerians, Say Northern Elders [PUNCH]
The Northern Elders Forum said on Sunday the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had failed to secure and pilot the affairs of the Nigerian nation.
The Prof. Ango Abdullahi-led NEF stated this at a press conference on the state of the nation in Zaria, Kaduna State, on Sunday.
The Director, Advocacy and Engagements of the NEF and a former Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, who read the text of the press conference, said Buhari had failed not only the North but the entire country with his style of leadership.
Notable northerners at the briefing included a former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alamin Daggash(retd.); Secretary of the Coalition of Northern Groups, Abdullahi Usman; and NEF Chairman, Prof. Ango Abdullahi; Ambassador Yahaya Kwande, Deputy National Chairman of NEF, Alhaji Bello Kirfi (Wazirin Bauchi); DIG Labaran Wurno, Alhaji Yakubu Shehu, former Managing Director of the defunct Bank of the North, Hajiya Amina Yahaya, among others.
Saying that they were disappointed by the Buhari regime in terms of the security of lives and property of Nigerians, the NEF called for the change of the nation’s service chiefs.
“The forum demands a thorough overhaul of the leadership of our security and public safety agencies, and the injection of higher levels of competence, integrity and accountability in the manner our troops and the police and security agencies deal with security challenges,” the forum said.
Amotekun Personnel: South-West Govs To Write IG For Gun Licence [PUNCH]
There were indications on Sunday that the South-West state executive councils would on Wednesday discuss the bills on Amotekun corps.
It was gathered that a security network agency would be established in each state to oversee the Amotekun corps.
The Ondo State Attorney General, Kola Olawoye, said after the passage of the bill, each state would apply to the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, for a gun licence for the Amotekun corps.
The South-West governors, had at a summit organised by the Development Agenda for Western Agenda on January 9 agreed to set up Operation Amotekun to address killings and kidnapping in the zone.
The Federal Government initially said the security outfit was illegal, but during a meeting in Abuja attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; the South-West governors and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, both the FG and the governors agreed that the South-West states should give a legal backing to the security outfit.
S’West state excos get Amotekun bill on Wednesday
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti State, Wale Fapohunda, in an interview with The PUNCH, confirmed that the bill for a law establishing Amotekun corps provided for the establishment of a security network agency to oversee the operations of the corps.
Fapohunda, who said the Amotekun bill for Ekiti State was ready, stated that the state Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, had directed that it should be presented to the state executive council on Wednesday.
He said, “We have drafted a bill that is concise and comprises only the most necessary provisions. Community policing is an important component of the proposed Ekiti State Amotekun Law.
“The key features of the Ekiti State Amotekun Law include the establishment of the Ekiti State Security Network Agency that will oversee the operations of the Ekiti State Amotekun Corps.”
Northern Govs, CNG Clash Over Operation Shege Ka Fasa [PUNCH]
Northern governors and the Coalition of Northern Groups on Sunday clashed over Operation Shege Ka Fasa, a security outfit, whose symbols were unveiled by the CNG on Wednesday.
The Plateau State Governor and Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Mr Simon Lalong, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said northern governors were not part of the security outfit.
But the CNG told The PUNCH on Sunday that its decision not to consult northern governors was deliberate, saying the governors would have swept it under the carpet if they were consulted.
The coalition also hit the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, and the Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, because of their stand on Operation Shege ka Fasa.
The CNG, while unveiling Operation Shege Ka Fasa’s symbols in Kaduna on Wednesday, had said that the security outfit would tackle kidnapping, banditry and other crimes in all the northern states.
The coalition move came amidst the setting up of Operation Amotekun by the South-West governors after initial opposition by the Federal Government.
We’ll No Longer Watch Our People Being Slaughtered — Ohanaeze [PUNCH]
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, rose from a meeting on Sunday and declared that it would use everything available to defend its people in the face of worsening insecurity in the country.
Briefing journalists after the meeting of its highest decision making body, Ime-Obi, held at Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu, Ohanaeze warned that Ndigbo should not be taken for granted.
The President General of Ohanaeze, Chief Nnia Nwodo, who read the resolution of the Ime-Obi, said it would no longer watch while its people were slaughtered.
The communique read in part, “Ohanaeze hereby states categorically that Ndigbo will not stand by and watch its people slaughtered. Ohanaeze will defend every soul in Igbo land.
“Ohanaeze hereby nominates, activates and directs the council of elders made up of reputable Igbo personalities and leaders to engage Ohanaeze state governors immediately on prevailing security challenges.
“Finally, Ohanaeze reminds Ndigbo that there had been difficulties in security in our history in Nigeria. In all these, our determination to protect our home lands and families against aggressors had never wavered and we have always relied on our ingenuity and vigilance to ensure our survival. Let nobody take us for granted.”
Those in attendance included Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, Mr Peter Obi, Chief Achike Udenwa, Prof. Mrs. Uche Azikiwe, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, Hon Tobi Okechukwu, and Dr Walter Ofonagoro.
Crisis Brews At ABU As Council Asks VC To Leave [DAILY TRUST]
- I won’t go anywhere – Prof. Garba
Crisis is brewing at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, following the directive by the Governing Council of the institution to the outgoing vice-chancellor, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, to proceed on terminal leave.
Prof. Garba’s tenure expires on April 30, 2020, and the directive by the council for him to leave ahead of his time is generating tension in the university.
However, the embattled V-C told Daily Trust yesterday that if the directive for him to leave was advisory, he was not willing to go until the end of his stipulated five years in office. The ABU Alumni Association has meanwhile waded into the matter, saying there was no law that prescribed terminal leave for vice-chancellors and asked the university council to rescind the decision.
Daily Trust recalled that a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the university, Prof. Kabir Bala, was in January appointed as the new vice-chancellor of the institution. He is to resume office on May 1.
How Prof Garba was asked to leave office as ABU VC
In a letter to the outgoing vice-chancellor dated February 7, signed by the Registrar of the university, A. A. Kundila, the council headed by its Chairman, Malam Adamu Fika (Wazirin Fika), directed Prof. Garba to proceed on terminal leave with effect from March 1, 2020.
The letter, which was copied the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Inspector General of Police, Director, Department of State Service, among others, asked the vice-chancellor to handover leadership of the university to the deputy vice-chancellor, Academic.
The two-paragraph letter seen by this newspaper reads: “At the 190th (emergency) meeting of the Governing Council of the university held on Thursday, 6 February 2020, council resolved and directed that you should proceed on terminal leave from 1 March 2020.
“You are to handover the instruments of the Office of the Vice-Chancellor to Prof. D. A. Ameh, the deputy vice-chancellor (Academic) who will manage the affairs of the university until the new vice-chancellor assumes duty on 1 May 2020.”
Aside the foregoing, Daily Trust gathered, the council also resolved to review all appointments and employments made by the outgoing V-C from October 2019 to date.
Alumni association wants decision on V-C reversed
The ABU Alumni Association led by Prof. Ahmed Tijjani Mora has kicked against the move saying in the interest of fairness, Prof. Garba should be allowed to exhaust his five-year tenure which ends in May.
We Can’t Subsidise UN Mandate With AU Peace Fund — Buhari [DAILY TRUST]
President Muhammadu Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari says the African Union Peace Fund should be structured for the internal support arrangements within the continent and not as resources to subsidize the mandate of the United Nations Security Council.
He said this at the high level meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council on the State of Peace and Security in Africa at the 33rd AU Summit on Saturday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The president, who said this in view of the Kigali and Johannesburg Assembly decisions, called for new strategies by the AU to effectively prevent, manage and resolve conflicts in the face of new circumstances and emerging challenges.
“In this regard, my delegation will always fervently contest attempts to make Africa subsidize the primary responsibility of the UN as clearly provided in it Charter, ‘’ he said in a statement by his media aide, Garba Shehu.
Nigeria Will Get First Tranche Of $3bn Loan Soon – World Bank [DAILY TRUST]
The World Bank has confirmed that discussions on its first tranche of the $3bn loan request to Nigeria have reached advanced stage and projected that the sum would be approved and given to the Nigerian government this year..
The Bank told Daily Trust exclusively that the first operation/loan will be approved this year but didn’t say how much it would approve in the first tranche.
However, checks by our correspondent revealed that it could be up to $1.5bn.
The Senior External Affairs Officer- Nigeria, Africa External Affairs, World Bank, Mr. Mansur Nasir, while reacting to our correspondent’s enquiry over the deal, said that “the Bank is currently working with the Federal Government to prepare the first operation/loan in the package of financing support discussed at the 2019 Annual Meetings in Washington.”
“The first operation/loan is expected to be approved in 2020. However, this is contingent on progress being made on the ongoing preparations with the Federal Government.” Nasir explained.
2023 President: North’s Elders Give Conditions [THE NATION]
- NEF rates Buhari low on security, economy – Forum leadership a paper tiger, says Presidency
THE North will support the presidential candidate with genuine commitment to deal with its problems and meet the region’s aspirations in 2023, the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) said on Sunday.
Its convener Prof. Ango Abdullahi said: “The forum has observed that political maneuvres around the 2023 elections are targeting the North as a region available for exploitation.
“We want to make it clear that people of the North will be very careful in committing to persons seeking their support on the basis of their region or wealth.
“The North knows its interest and will stand together to elect only persons who meet the standards and interests of the people of the North.
“No politicians should assume they are entitled to our support unless they show a clear understanding and a commitment to deal with our problems and meet our aspirations.”
Terrorism: ECOWAS To Spend $1b [THE NATION]
- ‘Nigeria, Canada tie admirable’
MEMBERS of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have pledged a $1billion war chest against terrorism and other security challenges in the sub-region and the Sahel.
President Muhammadu Buhari made this known during a high level meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council on the State of Peace and Security in Africa at the 33rd African Union(AU) summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the weekend.
Buhari, according to a statement on Sunday by Garba Shehu , commended the renewed vigour by ECOWAS members to mobilise their own resources to combat terrorism.
”In Burkina Faso, we (ECOWAS) pledged to mobilize $1 billion to address the challenges of insecurity in our region and the Sahel, ” the President said.
He also recalled the roles of Nigeria and other members of ECOWAS played in the conduct of peaceful elections and restoration of democracy in two countries in the sub-region.
Buhari said: “In Guinea Bissau, ECOWAS successfully midwifed the general elections.
Nigeria, along with ECOWAS member states, led in the restoration of democracy and peace in The Gambia.”
House Of Representatives Broke, Says Spokesman [THE NATION]
- ‘Our budget hasn’t increased in 10 years’
THE House of Representatives is facing serious cash crunch, its spokesman Benjamin Kalu said at the weekend.
He said the problem of funding is hampering the implementation of its programmes and slowing down its activities, including several investigations pending before it.
Besides, the budget of the lower chamber of the National Assembly has not increased in the last 10 years, despite increases in the cost of living across board, he said.
Despite the development, Kalu assured the nation that the leadership of the House would manage available funds judiciously and give Nigerians effective legislation.
Addressing reporters at the weekend in Abuja, he said: “Your observation about the financial problems of the committees, if any, is in order. The impression out there is not true. The House of Representatives is struggling with funds because the activities of the House are bigger than the budget. This is the fact. Many are not aware of this because they don’t understand the workings of the institution.
Presidency, Northern Elders At War Over Attack On PMB [LEADERSHIP]
The presidency and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) yesterday traded words over the latter’s criticisms of President Muhammadu Buhari, who the group accused of failing Nigerians in securing them from attacks by insurgents, bandits and other criminal elements.
NEF convener, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, who led other northern elders to address a press conference in Zaria on the state of the nation, accused Buhari of failing the country in the areas of good governance, security and poverty alleviation.
But, in a swift reaction, the president’s media aide, Mr Femi Adesina, said that Prof. Abdullahi signed a long-winding statement on many issues relating to the North, and purportedly to the country.
Adesina, in a counter statement, said that hearing the title of Abdullahi’s statement, “you would think the body was a conglomeration of true elders. But the truth is that NEF is just Ango Abdullahi, and Ango Abdullahi is NEF. It is a quasi-organisation that boasts of no credible membership, and its leader is akin to a General without troops.
“Before the 2019 presidential election, the one-man army called NEF had shown its antipathy against President Muhammadu Buhari, and its preference for another candidate. They all got beaten together.
”NEF is merely waving a flag that is at half-mast. President Buhari steadily and steadfastly focuses on the task of retooling Nigeria, and discerning Nigerians know the true state of the nation. They don’t need a paper tiger to tell them anything,” he stated.
PMB Has Failed Nigerians, NEF Insists
But NEF maintained that the current security challenges bedeviling and poverty had shown that the president had failed to meet the expectations and yearnings of the citizens of the country.
While addressing newsmen after its meeting which lasted for hours in Zaria, yesterday, NEF in the statement read by its spokesman and director advocacy and engagement, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed, said that the forum would have „refrained from comments on major developments relating to the management of national security and governance because it is convinced that these are times which require the highest levels of responsibility and circumspection in the manner elders and leaders in the nation contribute to the search for solutions to the multiple problems which face the nation.“
The northern elders said that „it has become necessary and appropriate, however, to make public, the position of NEF on important matters that affect the manner Nigerians live, and the future we must address.
“The forum regrets that by any standard of judgement, the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has failed the nation in the vital area of improving its security,” Baba-Ahmed said.
Lamenting the poor condition of living in the country, the elders pointed out that „poverty, particularly in the North, and massive social security have worsened under this administration.
“The relationship between insecurity and poverty is fundamental, but the administration does not appear to have any idea on what will provide relief or solution. It gives the forum no pleasure to say that it had warned Nigerians that President Buhari lacked the will, the competence and commitment to lead it into a secure and prosperous future before the 2019 elections.
“It is shocking that in spite of unprecedented consensus among Nigerians that the administration requires a new resolve, approach and leadership in the fight against the nation’s multiple security challenges, President Buhari appears either totally isolated or in deep denial over the result of his failures to secure Nigerians.
“With this type of mind set, it is difficult to see how President Buhari can accept the challenge to radically improve his handling of our security situation. Nonetheless, we believe that Nigerians must continue to raise our voices and organise through all legitimate means to demand that the administration addresses major failings in his perception of our situation and his response to our demands for our rights to security.
“The forum demands a thorough overhaul of the leadership of our security and public safety agencies, and the injection of higher levels of competence, integrity and accountability in the manner our troops and the police and security agencies deal with security challenges.
“We appeal to our religious leaders and fellow citizens not to fall into the trap of insurgents to set us up against each other. We condemn the tactic of targeting Christians and publicising their executions by an insurgency seeking to exploit our different faiths. We also condemn the murder of thousands of Muslims and Christians in communities which the insurgency has made permanent targets in the last decade.
“These are times when we must unite and resist a common enemy as well as demand that our leaders protect us all as Nigerians,“ NEF said.
Govs Bound To Sign Death Warrant – Lawyers [LEADERSHIP]
Prominent Nigerian lawyers have picked holes on the refusal of state governors to sign death sentences passed on inmates by the courts in various parts of the country.
They said that the governors’ actions were an abdication of their constitutional responsibilities, but remarked that they were at liberty to take decisions they deem fit of criminals on death row.
One of the senior lawyers and former attorney-general and commissioner of justice in Abia State, Chief Awa Kalu (SAN), said that a governor should be bold enough to take decisions, especially on the enforcement of court orders.
He said that attorneys-general in various states should also be bold enough to advise the governors on steps to take in such matters.
Kalu, who is a professor of law, said: ’’It is the abdication of the constitutional responsibilities on the part of governors who fail to sign death sentences. When you fight to be a governor, there are many things involved, which include the enforcement of court judgments.
“ When a court passes a judgement, the legal cycle is complete when it is obeyed. Some of the governors have not been bold enough to enforce death sentences because of their religious belief which has nothing to do with the law when you are a governor.
“ They must follow what the law says because that is the oath they took when they assumed office as governors,’’ he said.
Also, the founder of Egalitarian Mission Africa, Barr. Olukayode Ajulo, said that any governor that takes the oath of office should follow the law to the latter.
He, however, stated that the refusal to sign the execution orders of criminals cannot be an impeachable offence because the law also gives them power to apply the prerogative of mercy.
Ajulo explained that most of the impeachable offences in the country were based on political issues.
“Every governor that takes the oath of office is supposed to follow the law to the latter. If they believe they need to apply the prerogative of mercy, they can do that.
’’They can’t be impeached for not signing an execution order because during the yearly Independence anniversary, some of them exercise state pardon, which is within their powers, according to the law’’, he said.
On his part, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), said that the governors must not necessarily sign an execution order on criminals because they also have the powers to pardon them.
He argued they may decide to look at the conduct of a criminal with the aim of granting him or her state pardon in future.
Raji said: ’’It is not mandatory that they must sign it. They may be trying to tarry awhile to see if there will be some kind of changes in their conduct and lifestyle. ’It is not mandatory that they must sign the death sentence, they can commute it to life sentence.’’
Another lawyer, Ogbolie Gbuna, agreed with Raji, saying that they must not necessarily sign the execution warrant.
According to them, the governors are empowered by law to commute condemned criminals’ sentences.
He said that ’’it can’t be an impeachable offence because the governors have the powers to commute a death sentence to life imprisonment. Governors are not quick to sign death sentences but are quick to commute death sentences to life imprisonment.’’